TSX up amid Loblaw REIT plan, solid bank earnings

The Toronto stock market was higher amid strong earnings reports from TD Bank (TSX:TD), CIBC (TSX:CM) and National Bank (TSX:NA) along with a major announcement from grocer Loblaw Companies Ltd. (TSX: L).

The S&P/TSX composite index added 7.68 points to 12,164.97 as the market failed to find lift from the bank reports.

Loblaw stock soared almost 25 per cent to $41.84 after the company said it wants to unlock shareholder value by creating one of the largest real estate investment trusts in Canada. Units of the REIT are expected to be sold in an initial public offering to be completed in mid-2013, subject to regulatory approvals.

TD Bank’s (TSX:TD) quarterly profit amounted to $1.66 per share before adjustments, down two cents per share from the same time last year. On an adjusted basis, TD had $1.83 per share of diluted earnings, up from $1.75 per share a year earlier and two cents a share above a consensus estimate. Its shares dropped 89 cents to $81.69.

TD also announced it is buying the U.S.-based Epoch investment management business for US$668 million in cash.

CIBC (TSX:CM) shares dipped two cents to $80.50 as the bank had $852 million or $2.02 of net income in the fourth quarter, an increase of nearly $100 million from the same time last year. On an adjusted basis, CIBC’s fourth-quarter profit amounted to $2.04 per share, six cents above estimates.

And National Bank’s (TSX:NA) quarterly earnings ran ahead 20 per cent from a year ago to $351 million or $1.97 per share. Ex-items, the bank earned $1.93 a share, which matched expectations.
National is also upping its dividend by five per cent to 83 cents a share but its shares gave back 25 cents to $77.52.

The TSX Venture Exchange dipped 1.6 points to 1,182.94.

The Canadian dollar rose 0.05 of a cent to 100.89 cents US.

U.S. indexes were also positive as traders also hoped that lawmakers are getting closer to an agreement that would avert a fiscal crisis at the end of the year.

The Dow Jones industrials rose 9.24 points to 13,043.73, the Nasdaq was up 5.46 points to 2,979.16 while the S&P 500 index added 0.79 of a point to 1,410.07.

Stocks finished higher Wednesday amid reports a substantial number of Republicans had signed a letter calling for exploration of “all options” on taxes and entitlement programs, a signal that some rank-and-file members could be ready to bargain.

President Barack Obama and House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner spoke Wednesday for the first time in days in a telephone discussion on the so-called “fiscal cliff.” That’s the name for the automatic spending cuts and tax increases that would kick in at the start of next year if no budget deal is reached.

Economists think the subsequent sharp drop in economic activity would send the U.S. back into recession.

Obama said a compromise was “not that tough” and could even be done quickly, raising the possibility that broader negotiations will soon resume between the White House and congressional leaders.

But Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner warned Wednesday after markets closed that the administration will “absolutely” let the double whammy take effect as scheduled unless Republicans give in to Obama’s demand to raise tax rates at upper income levels.

The industrials sector led advancers amid a major announcement from transport giant Bombardier Inc.’s (TSX:BBD.B) aerospace division. American carrier Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order for 40 of its CRJ900 NextGen regional jets. Delta has also taken options on an additional 30 planes.

Montreal-based Bombardier said that, based on the list price, the firm order is valued at approximately US$1.85 billion and could reach approximately $3.29 billion if the 30 options are exercised and its shares gained 11 cents to $3.39.

The gold sector was up 0.2 per cent while February gold declined $5.70 to US$1,688.10 an ounce. Eldorado Gold (TSX:ELD) gained 10 cents to $13.36.

Other commodities were lower as the March copper contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange shed two cents to US$3.67 a pound after rising three cents Wednesday amid rising hopes for more economic stimulus in China, the world’s biggest consumer of the metal. The base metals sector was down 0.5 per cent and First Quantum Minerals (TSX:FM) lost 35 cents to $20.50.

The energy contract was off about 0.1 per cent as the January crude contract extended losses from Wednesday that resulted from data showing a sharp run-up in U.S. gasoline inventories last week. Crude lost $1.51 to US$86.37 a barrel.

In other corporate news, Lululemon Athletica Inc. (TSX:LLL) earned $57.3 million or 39 cents a share in its latest quarter, up from $38.8 million a year ago. Revenue grew by 37 per cent to $316.5 million. Its shares gained $2.18 to $70.22.

Dollarama Inc. (TSX:DOL) posted quarterly net profits of $51.5 million or 68 cents per diluted share, up from $41.8 million or 55 cents a year earlier. Revenues soared to just under $458 million from $400.3 million but its shares dipped 49 cents to $62.11.

And Rona Inc. (TSX:RON) shares gained 20 cents to $10.35 as it said it is planning to sell non-core assets to focus the business and improve profitability. Rona is Canada’s largest home-improvement retailer.

Earlier in Asia, shares in China were flat after big gains in the previous session when investors were cheered by hopes of more stimulus measures. The main Shanghai index ended 0.1 per cent lower while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.1 per cent. However, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.8 per cent to its first closing above 9,500 since April.

Active Investor was produced by Postmedia's advertising department in collaboration with iShares by BlackRock to promote awareness of this topic for commercial purposes. Postmedia's editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.

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